Top 12 Mobile Stories of 2012

Wow, it was a busy year in mobile, that’s for sure. We saw the introduction of the Galaxy S III and the iPhone 5, two of the biggest handsets of the year, and Microsoft’s release of Windows Phone 8. Meanwhile, RIM delayed BlackBerry 10 until 2013. We also saw the introduction of iOS 6 and Android 4.1 (and Android 4.2) Jelly Bean that are the best versions of Google’s mobile operating system yet.

It was an exciting year, that’s for sure.

Let’s take a quick journey back at 12 of the biggest stories that occurred.

Apple Unveils iOS 6 and iPhone 5

We knew it was coming, but that didn’t stop this from becoming one of the biggest stories of the year. iOS 6 is Apple’s latest mobile operating system, and it comes with major enhancements to Siri, a new Maps platform, Facebook over cellular support, changes to the email system, speed improvements and much more. Apple, unlike other firms, quickly made the operating system available for most of its older devices, too. Passbook and other features still need some work to become useful to the masses, but iOS 6 overall is a step in the right direction and helps the mobile OS remain one of the most powerful to date.

Speculation around the iPhone 5 (read our review here) started almost immediately after the iPhone 4S launched. Actually, technically, rumors started spilling to the net after the iPhone 4 launched, but most of them were incorrect. The iPhone 5 introduced a beautiful new design that the world had never seen before, and it’s so complicated that Apple’s parts suppliers had a hard time keeping up with demand. The iPhone 5 is arguably the most successful smartphone Apple has sold yet, and it was introduced with a new Lightning port connector, a better camera, 4G LTE connectivity for the first time ever and much more. It was definitely one of the biggest handset announcements of 2012.

Apple Unveils iPad mini

The late Steve Jobs once said that Apple had no interest into moving into the smaller 7-inch range tablet space, but that’s exactly what Apple did this year when it unveiled the iPad mini under the leadership of Tim Cook. It has its issues – we wish the display had a sharper Retina-worthy resolution, more RAM and a faster processor, but the 7.9-inch size makes it more portable than any iPad before it. Apple arguably launched the product to compete against $199 tablets from Amazon, Google, Samsung and other firms, but it priced the tablet at $329, which may be a bit steep for some consumers. We love the iPad mini, but still suggest you hang out for the second generation that will no doubt offer higher-specs and force Apple to drop the price of the current model.

Samsung and Apple Battle it out in the Court Room

Samsung and Apple had a super long drawn-out battle in the court room. It was so in-depth that the presiding judge even asked that the two firms settle out of court. Apple eventually won and a jury ruled that Samsung owed the iPhone maker more than $1 billion in damages. Still, Apple pushed on to ban additional Samsung products and, the South Korea tech giant argued that the case was unfairly decided because the jury foreman had ties to Seagate, a Samsung partner. The judge recently tossed a few of those additional cases, but we wouldn’t be surprised to see the two firms continue to go at one another’s throats in the future, especially since Apple is currently trying to earn an injunction against the Galaxy S III and other devices.

Samsung Unveils Galaxy S III

Samsung launched the Galaxy S III this year, and it took the world and Android lovers by storm. It still sells like hotcakes, even though speculation around the Galaxy S IV has already started. Samsung sold 20 million units in the first 100 days the device was on the market, and the phone launched on every major carrier in the United States including Sprint, T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon Wireless and even a few smaller wireless providers. It is now being upgraded to Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, which introduces a ton of new features, and sits as one of our favorite devices as 2012.

Google Announces Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and Android 4.2 Jelly Bean

Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and, a few months later, Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, really showed what Google’s mobile operating system is capable of. As we’ve said around the offices, it finally felt like Android had left beta form and became a truly robust and powerful mobile OS that’s capable of competing against, and even overtaking, other platforms. Jelly Bean came with Google Search, which goes toe-to-toe with Apple’s Siri, and Google Now, for up-to-date information on traffic, the weather, sports and so much more. Plus, “Project Butter” helped make the platform run smoother and quicker than ever before. Android 4.1 is now available for dozens of smartphones and tablets, and Android 4.2 will bring its enhancements, including a new photo sphere feature and camera features (among other options) to devices in the new year.

Google Reveals Nexus 7, Nexus 10 and Nexus 4 Devices

Google’s Nexus 7 was unveiled before the Nexus 10 and the Nexus 4, and was the first Jelly Bean-powered device. It offers a 7-inch screen and came in at a stellar $199 price tag. Sure, Google eventually replaced the entry-level 8GB model with a 16GB option, which frustrated some consumers, but we’re glad the price remained low. The device was joined by the Nexus 10 and the Nexus 4 just a few months ago, Google’s 10-inch tablet and flagship Android smartphone, respectively, and all three now run Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. The Nexus 4 doesn’t offer support for LTE networks out of the box, but its industrial design is stellar and it pushes the barrier of Android’s capabilities farther than ever before. The Nexus 10 is powerful in its own right, and offers a large screen experience for those who want a bit more viewing space than the Nexus 7 offers. It’s out top choice for large-screen Android tablets currently, but we’re more attracted to the smaller Nexus 7.

T-Mobile announced its intentions to acquire MetroPCS in October, after its failed merger with AT&T in 2011. The carrier hopes that the additional spectrum from the purchase will allow it to build out an LTE network to match those deployed by Sprint, AT&T and Verizon Wireless. If the merger is approved, and the FCC has suggested that it should be, T-Mobile will have an estimate 42.5 million subscribers and $24.8 million in revenue for the year. The deal is expected to close during the first half of next year.

Wrap-Up

As you can see, 2012 was chock full of mobile stories that changed the industry forever. 2011 was no different, and we believe even more excitement will unravel in 2013, especially as we continue to see carriers merge and new platforms battle it out for the hearts of consumers. What were your favorite stories of 2012? What do you expect in 2013?